Orchids,Nature and My Outdoor Life

Saturday, 8 July 2017

The precious stretch of old pasture in the fields adjacent to our house is earmarked for building in the next few years so it looks as though the tapestry of orchids and wild flowers that the locals have loved so much will be gone for ever.

When the time arrives there will be a public consultation as to what can be done to protect these beautiful orchids which are multiplying each year. The demand for new houses puts this land under a lot of pressure even though it's Green Belt.

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Wed.5th July 2017
I've just had a look round our local industrial estate this afternoon and there are extreme contrasts in the appearance of some of the local industrial units witch are surrounded by grassy areas. The grass that has been mowed looks tidy, neat almost a sterile desert but it does give a good impression about the tidiness of the company to which it belongs.
whilst other companies the grassy ares have been left to grow and are full of Wild Flowers at least four species of Orchids, many Bees, Insects and quite a few Butterflies.
I know that appearances and first impressions count but are the companies doing enough to support and preserve our flora and wildlife on all the industrial estates the seem to be springing up all over our countryside?

Mown within an inch of its life

Left uncut, masses of Common Spotted Orchids amongst other wild flowers

Sunday, 12 March 2017

12th March 2017 We've just arrived home from our yearly visit to pen-y-ghent to find the Purple Mountain Saxifrage. Some clumps were opening but the full show will probably be around 10 days time. The weather was blustery with low cloud but not cold 8c. The saxifrage grows down to sea level in Northern Greenland and up to 10,000ft in the Alps and Rockies, it really is a true arctic alpine flower.

Sunday, 12 February 2017

12th February 2017
Natural Surroundings...Wildlife-Friendly Gardens and Grounds, Cafe-Shop and Plant Sales. Natural Surroundings is just inland from Blakeney and Cley-Next-The-Sea in North Norfolk it is owned and managed by Anne and Simon Harrop either Anne and Simon are usually on site and are happy to offer help and advice.
Anybody on holiday in the area should pay it a visit, you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

30th January 2017
The RIBBLE RIVERS TRUST spring conference was held on the 26th & 27th of March 2015 but it's taken me so long to complete the film because I couldn't film any salmon spawning until this Nov 2017.
This is a short film showing just some of the many events that I've recorded over the last 5 years making the URBAN RIVERS ENHANCEMENT SCHEME in our local rivers such a success story.

Saturday, 24 December 2016

24th December 2016
A Very Happy Christmas to everybody. I have posted very little this year but I would like to share with you a short video that I've just finished editing. The footage was sent to Peter Chippendale over the internet from Switzerland by Walter Rossini a mountain guide who Peter hired and trained with in late August this year. Peter was successful and has fulfilled his dream of climbing the Matterhorn.
From the 3 hours of video that Walter filmed on a GoPro Helmet Camera located on both his helmet and ice axe ( he's to be congratulated on his coverage) I've tried to make this short video of the story leading up to this achievement spoken by Peter in his own words .
This short film will be viewed on Christmas Day by Peter's Family.

My name is David Crossley I am married with two grown up children and five grandchildren. I am a retired Engineering Instructor, retired in 1999. I have many interests - I am a member of Burnley Film Makers, an amateur film maker and photographer, a walker,all aspects of the great outdoors, wildlife gardening, wild life ponds and wild orchids. The highlight of my walking was probably trekking through the Himalayas in Nepal.

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave a comment to let me know that you have visited and I can visit yours.